The European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for

sponsorship Sponsoring something (or someone) is the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through the provision of products or services. The individual or group that provides the support, similar to a benefactor, is k ...

reasons) was a repechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the

European Challenge Cup The EPCR Challenge Cup is an annual rugby union competition organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the second-tier competition for clubs based in European leagues behind the European Rugby Champions Cup. From its inception i ...

. As such, it formed Europe's third-tier club

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

competition below the

Heineken Cup The European Rugby Champions Cup (known as the Heineken Champions Cup for sponsorship reasons) is an annual rugby union tournament organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the top-tier competition for clubs who compete in a pre ...

and

. The name "European Shield" had previously been used for the now renamed European Challenge Cup. A total of 16 teams participated in each season. The competition was contested between the first round losers from the

with teams being added directly to make up the full 16 team complement. The structure of the competition was a purely knockout format; teams played each other on a home and away basis, with the aggregate points winner proceeding to the next round. The final was a single leg. The competition had a brief existence, running for just three seasons in 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05. Three clubs won the competition in each year that it was run and there were three different runners up. Thereafter, the

reverted to its previous "pool and knockout" format and the European Shield was discontinued.

Winners of the European Shield

Seasons

2002–03 competition

This competition was contested between the first round losers from the 2002–03 European Challenge Cup. A total of 16 teams participated, representing five countries. The competition began on 6 December 2002 and culminated in the final at the

Madejski Stadium The Madejski Stadium (currently known as the Select Car Leasing Stadium for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Reading. It is the home of Reading Football Club, who play in the EFL Championship. It also provides the finish for the Rea ...

Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of Letter (alphabet), letters, symbols, etc., especially by Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process invo ...

on 25 May 2003.

Castres Olympique Castres Olympique () is a French rugby union club located in the Occitanian city of Castres and is currently competing in the top level of the French league system. Founded in 1898, the club took its current name in 1906. They play at the Sta ...

secured a victory over

Caerphilly Caerphilly (, ; cy, Caerffili, ) is a town and community in Wales. It is situated at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley. It is north of Cardiff and northwest of Newport. It is the largest town in Caerphilly County Borough, and lies wit ...

in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.

Teams

Final

2003–04 competition

This competition was contested between 12 first round losers from the

2003–04 European Challenge Cup The 2003–04 European Challenge Cup (known as the Parker Pen Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 8th season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup. A total of 28 teams pa ...

plus 4 other Clubs entering directly into the 1st Round. A total of 16 teams participated, representing five countries. The competition began on 10 January 2004 and culminated in the final at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in

Viadana Viadana may refer to: Surname * Lodovico Grossi da Viadana (c. 1560 – 1627), Italian composer, teacher, and Franciscan friar * Gilberto Viadana (born 1973), Italian figure skater Other * Viadana, Lombardy, a town in the province of Mantua, Lom ...

on 21 May 2004.

Montpellier Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...

secured a victory over

in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.

Teams

Final

2004–05 competition

This competition was intended to be contested between 12 first round losers from the

2004–05 European Challenge Cup The 2004–05 European Challenge Cup (known as the Parker Pen Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the ninth season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second-tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup. A total of 28 teams p ...

, plus 4 other Clubs that joined directly at the 1st Round of the Shield. AA Coimbra subsequently declined to play in the competition. therefore a total of 15 teams participated, representing six countries. The competition began on 4 December 2004 and culminated in the final at

Kassam Stadium The Kassam Stadium (also known as Grenoble Road) is the home of Oxford United Football Club, and is named after the ground's owner and former chairman of the football club, Firoz Kassam. The Kassam Stadium currently hosts League One (third t ...

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

on 21 May 2005.

Auch Auch (; oc, label= Gascon, Aush ) is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Occitanie, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony. Geography Localization Hydrography The Riv ...

secured a victory over

Worcester Warriors Worcester Warriors Rugby Football Club is a professional rugby union club, based in Worcester, England, that is currently in Administration (law), administration and which has been suspended and will be relegated from Premiership Rugby, the top ...

in the final and picked up their first piece of European Club silverware.

Teams

Final

References

External links

BBC Parker Pen 2002/3 results summary

BBC Parker Pen Cup & Shield 2003/4 results summary

BBC European Challenge Cup & Shield 2004/5 results summary

Official site

Unofficial European club rankings
{{European Rugby Challenge Cup

Shield A shield is a piece of personal armour held in the hand, which may or may not be strapped to the wrist or forearm. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry or projectiles such as arrows, by means of a ...

2002 establishments in Europe Defunct rugby union competitions in Europe for clubs and provinces Recurring sporting events established in 2002

Winners of the European Shield

Seasons

2002–03 competition

Teams

Final

2003–04 competition

Teams

Final

2004–05 competition

Teams

Final

See also

References

External links